New anchor team on WSBT

Copeland and Schutt back in Michiana

That's how both Rick Schutt and Jennifer Copeland described returning to South Bend.

Today will be their first official day as co-anchors with Cindy Ward on WSBT-TV's evening news, but neither of them is new to the area or to anchoring.

Copeland worked at WSBT as a reporter and occasional news anchor from 2002 to 2006.

"It was my first on-air job," she said, explaining that she had spent four years previously in Cleveland working as an associate producer.

She met her husband, Andy Copeland, here and this is where they bought their first home.

In 2006, a transfer at his job took them to Champaign, Ill., closer to family. While there, Copeland worked at WICD-TV, the local ABC affiliate.

Schutt's story was similar to Copeland's. He worked at WSJV-TV (Fox 28) from December 1996 to September 2007, covering sports and then anchoring for three years.

He and his wife, both from the Chicago area, worked in South Bend at the time of their marriage. They bought their first house here and had their two children at Memorial Hospital of South Bend.

After 11 years, he took a job in Champaign that offered him a chance to do early evening news. He was surprised to find that his co-anchor for the 6 and 10 p.m. news was Copeland.

"We didn't know each other when we worked in South Bend, though we knew of each other," Schutt said. "But we had similar stories and people that we knew. It seemed like we were talking about the South Bend area all the time."

They discussed favorite restaurants and beaches and the best places to pick strawberries.

Nine months after Schutt started, Copeland moved to Charlotte, N.C., where she worked at WCNC-TV, then to Minneapolis, where she anchored for KSTP-TV. Then, her husband was transferred back to South Bend and the couple -- who now have two children -- moved back in March.

"We missed it here. This is a big deal for our family," she said. "I want our kids to grow up here.

"In all those stops we've made, we'd talk about our favorite places to go here. So, it was fun coming back and seeing all those places again."

She's happy to find that many of the WSBT staff are still here as well. And while she did more reporting when she was here the first time, she's looking forward to anchoring the 5, 5:30 and 6 p.m. news.

"I like that you get the full picture of what's going on in the area," she said. "When you are a reporter, your job is to focus on one story and be the expert for the day on that. I like knowing the whole range of what's happening. Though I still plan to get out once in a while to do some reports."

It will be nice to work with Schutt again, too, she said, adding: "Normally when you come into a job, you are expected to have instant chemistry with somebody, and we don't have to try. It's there. I know his wife and kids. My family knows his family. There's a naturalness about it that's easy."

Both anchors are family-oriented and plan to spend their weekends doing things with their spouses and kids, whether that involves painting, flying kites, visiting U-pick farms, enjoying the beach or attending a parade or festival.

But one thing is clear. People will see them around the community.

And, while they are glad to be home in South Bend, they are also excited about working at WSBT.

"I'm excited to have Jennifer and Cindy as my co-workers and I believe that viewers are going to like what we bring to the table," said Schutt, who has been at the station since July 16.

"People can expect more from us. We are going to follow up on stories, we are going to dig deeper and you will know what's happening in your community."